Palestinian policeman was killed and two others wounded in a fire exchange between Palestinian National Guard forces and an undercover IDF unit. Head of the IDF Central Command launches an investigation

Ali Waked|Published: 12.05.07 , 19:31

Clashes between an undercover IDF force and Palestinians resulted in the death of a 30-year-old Palestinian policeman on Wednesday afternoon in the Dahaysha refugee camp near Bethlehem. Two additional Palestinian policemen were wounded in the incident.

According to Palestinian officials, a National Guard force spotted a suspicious-looking commercial vehicle and, suspecting it was transporting local criminals, opened fire at it. But inside the car were undercover IDF soldiers, who returned fire and wounded three of the Palestinian policemen. One of the wounded men, Muhammad Salah, died of his injuries after being evacuated to a hospital for treatment.

Dozens of Palestinians gathered at the scene and a violent riot developed, with protestors hurling rocks and bottles at Israeli troops who came to the undercover unit's aid. The troops reportedly fired several rounds in the air.

The Israeli Civil Administration and the commander of the Judea and Samaria